J.K. Rowling and Warner Brother's own it all.
Author notes and Review Responses to follow
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Chapter 18
Draco and Ginny walked swiftly around the lake towards the castle. As Draco led the way, Ginny would occasionally catch up to him and swat him playfully across the arse. Draco drew his hands behind his lower back and clasped them tightly as he walked swiftly. Allowing a slight chuckle to escape his lips, Draco caught Ginny's forearm as she swung at him again. Not releasing Ginny's arm, he turned raising an eyebrow at her. "Careful Weasley, we wouldn't want the school to know that you've taken a liking to me now would we?"
Instead of stepping back to break Draco's grasp, Ginny stepped in closer to him, lifting her chin and softening her eyes to address him, "I could take it. What about you? Is the great Draco Malfoy scared of my brother," she asked a playful grin spreading across her face.
Draco grasped Ginny's other arm above the elbow and pulled her in closer to him, fixing a convincing glare on his face. "Someone thinks they're witty," he drawled, lowering his head so that his gray eyes bore into hers. "Don't confuse discretion with fear. Your brother's objection to our fraternization is the least of my concerns." As Ginny moved to step in closer and seek Draco's lips, a voice interrupted.
"Malfoy, let her go this instant," Harry Potter called, hurrying over towards where the two stood at the edge of the path that led from the lake up to the castle. "Ginny, are you alright?"
Draco realized that to an outsider, the scene that had just transpired might indeed take him as a hostile aggressor. He held both of Ginny's arms tightly in his hands, her body pulled in close to his. His face was lowered to hers talking in his infamous drawl. Anyone who knew his history would assume that Draco was engaged in his favorite pastime, harassing young Gryffindors.
"I'm fine," Ginny replied, forcefully removing herself from Draco's grasp.
'Not so anxious to tell her friends the truth now; so much for Gryffindor bravery,' Draco thought as he turned to sneer at Harry.
"Just what do you think you're doing," Harry questioned, one hand fisted tightly at his side, the other moving inside of his Quidditch robes to grasp his wand.
"Not that it is any of your concern, Potter," Draco spat the name as if it were something vile, "but, I was reprimanding the little Weasel here as she is tardy for detention."
"It is my concern Malfoy! I will not allow you to bully my best friend's younger sister."
At Harry's words, Ginny's face turned pink. "I said I'm fine Harry, leave it alone," Ginny replied, filtering the frustration out of her voice before allowing the words to leave her lips.
"Ginny he has no right to put his hands on you," Harry started.
"He has every right to put his hands anywhere I allow," Ginny yelled, moving forward and lifting her chin to confront Harry. "*You* have no right to hover over me like a mother hen. My mother is at home and your 'best friend' does well enough without your assistance."
Harry gasped at Ginny's words, "I was just trying to… I didn't mean… I mean, I didn't know," he stammered, his voice trailing as the meaning behind Ginny's words hit him.
"Of course you didn't know Harry, I'm your best friends little sister, why *would* you know?"
Harry placed his hands upon Ginny's shoulders, his eyes pleading as he addressed her, "Ginny, you know you mean more to me than that. Yes, you're Ron's little sister, but you're also…"
"I'm also what, Harry, your best chaser? That has got to be it, because I know you wouldn't have the nerve to call me your friend. No, I don't know that I mean more to you than Ron's little sister. I couldn't possibly know what you make no effort to convey," with that, Ginny spun on her heels, slipping her arm around Draco's waist and pulling him back towards the castle.
****
Colin had been listening to Hermione's rant for the past hour and was growing anxious to know what had happened to Ginny.
"Why can't he be more like you Colin? Ron would have veered the conversation to Quidditch, or suggested a game of exploding snap to take my mind off of things by now. He doesn't understand, that sometimes I need him to put my needs first," Hermione asked as she wiped away the tears that had fallen.
Colin pulled Hermione into an embrace. "Sometimes men just don't get it Hermione, that doesn't mean that Ron doesn't care, just that he's apt to behave like an insensitive git on occasion."
As Hermione nestled her head into Colin's shoulder, Colin raised his hand to brush her brown hair out of his eyes. As his vision was cleared, he caught sight of Blaise headed back to where the carriages that would take the students back to Hogwarts were. "Hermione, I couldn't just leave you seeing how upset you were, but I really must go. Draco had confronted Ginny in the Three Broomsticks before…"
"Oh my! And here I am wallowing in self-pity while he has Ginny," Hermione started.
"Calm down. Liane sent Fred, George, Ron and Harry to look after her. Besides, the Three Broomsticks was packed, I'm sure that Ginny will be alright."
"Well, I'm headed over there to see what happened," Hermione answered, any trace of the rant she had earlier now replaced by determination to set Draco Malfoy straight.
"I think I'm going to head back to the castle to alert Professor McGonagall," Colin replied as he caught Blaise's eye and noticed him move to stand off the path behind a large tree.
Colin watched as Hermione trotted down the path, her wand drawn, steadily speaking to herself before he turned to confront his lover. Striding up the path, his normally smiling blue eyes deadened with a glare, Colin seethed as he recalled the scene in the Three Broomsticks.
Grabbing the collar of Blaise's robes, Colin spat angrily, "What the hell was that Zabini?"
Gazing down at Colin's hands slowly, before raising his head to shoot daggers at Colin silently with his deep brown eyes, Blaise replied slowly, "What exactly are you referring to?"
Not backing down from the Slytherin who commanded nearly as much respect as Draco, Colin grasped the robes in his hand tighter, stopping just short of choking Blaise before answering. "I thought we had an agreement Blaise. I would help that little tart of a Slytherin you like to prance about with, in exchange for your word…"
"…My word that no harm would come to Liane," Blaise interrupted.
"You know damn well that logically extends to Ginny or anyone else you and Draco might use as a ploy to divert Liane's attention," Colin replied, releasing Blaise from his grip and turning his back to run a hand through his hair.
"You have my word, no harm has, or will come to Ginny, Col," Blaise assured Colin softly, touching his shoulder lightly.
"You don't know that, you've left her at the hands of Malfoy. How can you be so sure?"
"Because I know something that even Draco does not. He cares for her too deeply to allow any harm to come to her," Blaise continued, quickly checking their surroundings to be sure that there were no nosy students wandering about before grabbing Colin's hand and pulling him behind the tree with him.
As Blaise ran his right hand along Colin's hair line and allowed his hand to trail along the side of his face, Colin felt himself soften instantly. "You know how I feel about you, Blaise. But if anything happened to Ginny or Liane, I don't know what I'd do, they're the only ones that have truly accepted me for who I am," his voice wavering as the realization of how scared he had been at seeing Ginny being pulled by the arm by Malfoy.
"Shhhh," Blaise hushed Colin before the tears could overtake him. Colin felt his chin being lifted by Blaise to look him in the eyes, unaffected by the beginnings of tears that made his eyes shine. As he saw Blaise's lips descend upon his own, Colin raised his hands to sift his fingers up into his lover's dark brown locks, mentally tasting the butterbeer upon the boys lips.
Just before their lips met, Blaise's head snapped as if he'd heard something. Colin, aware of their need for discretion, instantly dropped his arms and alerted his ears, listening for the sound of an intruder. Hearing nothing, he looked to Blaise, "What is it?"
"Nothing," Blaise answered shortly, "but this is not the time nor place, let's head back to the castle."
***
As the Hogwarts massive gate came into view, Liane and George ceased their impromptu game of finding the worse insults to describe Pansy Parkinson.
"I swore when I broke out last time, I'd never return," George joked, in an attempt to repress the strain that grew as their carriage drew nearer to the school.
Liane looked at George, "Where do you think he's taken her. We don't have anything useful to tell Professor McGonagall."
"Wherever they are, I am sure that Ginny will be fine. If he doesn't bring her back soon, we'll find
them." George said as their carriage screeched to a halt, opening the door for Liane to step out.
"Ahhhhh, Mr. Weasley. Come to smuggle some contraband inside of Hogwarts, eh," Argus Filch, the caretaker greeted George as he alighted from the carriage.
"Bugger off Filch, I have urgent business with Professor McGonagall," George replied, in no mood to deal with the uptight caretaker.
"Shoulda hung you by your toes when I had the chance; always said Dumbledore was too soft with you and your brother, I did. Well no one but students and visitors with legitimate business are allowed through these gates, so off with ya," Filch snarled as his cat, Mrs. Norris, arched her back, hissing, with her fur standing on end.
"But Mr. Filch," Liane started, in an attempt to explain Ginny's abduction.
"I would advise you Ms. Coulter to make your way to the castle, before you find yourself in an unwanted predicament."
Liane's shoulders collapsed in defeat as she looked apologetically at George before turning to head into the castle.
"Thank you Argus," Minerva McGonagall, deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts' called as she strode swiftly out to the gates of the castle. "I was just heading out to meet Mr. Weasley and Ms. Coulter."
"Errr, no problem Professor, do you think it's wise to let this purveyor of illegal contraband onto school property? It has taken me nearly two months to confiscate what I believe to be just about one half of the illegal items we have in the school, the majority of which were supplied by Mr. –er, Weasley, here."
"I'm quite sure that Mr. Weasley wouldn't dream of leaving any of his stock behind, as he is quite aware that they are not allowed," Professor McGonagall answered shortly before turning to lead Liane and George up to the castle.
As Professor McGonagall ushered Liane and George into her office, she poured herself a cup of tea, settling into her chair and taking a careful sip before asking, "I received your owl that there was an altercation involving your sister, George."
"Yes Professor McGonagall. Apparantly, Draco Malfoy, came into the Three Broomsticks this afternoon and assaulted her…"
As Liane observed Professor McGonagall's raised eyebrow, she interjected. "Malfoy has been insisting on speaking with Ginny for the past week or so."
"I had thought that Ginny and Draco had become," Professor McGonagall started, searching for the correct words to convey her perception of the two students, "rather fond of one another."
"All due respect Professor McGonagall, but regardless of their affections for one another, I watched my sister being dragged into a fireplace and flooed off to some unknown destination by Malfoy. This after Blaise Zabini cast a confundus charm on Madame Rosmerta and a full body bind spell on my brother Ron," George asserted, barely containing his agitation at the situation.
"I assure you Mr. Weasley that your sister will be fine. I will send word to the ministry to get a log of floo activity out of the Three Broomsticks. Travel in and out of Hogsmeade is carefully monitored because of it's proximity to Hogwarts."
"But," Liane started.
"Miss Coulter, I assure you that Ginny will be back in your dormitory this evening, safe and sound. I have no reason to suspect that Draco Malfoy will harm her in anyway."
"That Dea..." George started before McGonagall cut him off again.
"George, we are all aware of Draco's family ties. Yet, I stand by my word, I am sure that Ginny will be back by curfew. Now if that's all, it was good to see you again George. Do be sure not to leave any surprises by for the students," she stated finally leaving her teacup on her desk and turning to adjourn into her private chambers.
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Author's Notes: Okay, I love my beta, really I do. I love my reviewers too, so I'm just
torn. So here's what I've decided, and
Michele already told me it's okay. Since I tend to do my writing so late at
night, and want to post immediately, I will probably post the entire story in
its raw form, unbeta-ed. When it's complete, I do plan to go back and
correct some of the fantastic catches that Michele has made, as well as a few
that I've seen as well. So, please
excuse the somewhat bumpy ride, but I want to get the story done and over with
already!!!! (So I can start on the next
chapter in the saga :) )
Oh yeah, Happy Birthday to me, well not yet, but tomorrow, Wednesday, April 28th. I doubt I'll update before then, but who knows I might surprise me. Also if anyone's wondering, I just bought daddy home from the hospital tonight, so he's doing well!!!
A special Birthday present would be to check out the fairy tale I've been writing. It's called The Malfoy Weasley feud. It's an attempt to explain the origins of the Malfoy Weasley Feud. And I have to credit AznDreamer802 for giving me the idea. Thanks again!
And now, the responses:
babysb: I'm really glad that you're enjoying the story, I hope the update was soon enough.
LovesFantasy: YAY, I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. And strawberry's yum, on a man, yummier… but I digress. I'm fairly new to the fan fiction thing too, but somehow this story jumped in my head and I just started typing. I'm glad that you think the characters are in character, I'm trying hard to keep them that way, well except Liane, because she's MINE I can do whatever I want with her MUAHAHAHAHA. I'm also glad you don't mind the lack of constant snogging. I didn't want to write a soft pr0n story, so, it's there, because well, they're teenagers, and they have hormones, and all, but I want it to be plot driven. Oh yeah, I love long reviews. I love short reviews. Oh heck, I love em all, thanks for dropping a note :)
Yochy: I'm really glad that you like the fic, glad you enjoyed the chapter. Hope this one doesn't disappoint.
AznDreamer802: Hey girl, always good to hear from you. Also, I might never fail to write a chapter, but I don't have that dreaded thing called homework. My job is from 9-5 (on their lucky days) and then I'm done. I admire ya'll students who manage between classes, homework, projects, and exams; yet still have the drive to pick up a quill and write. Saw you have a new update **Check out her story The Untouchable Gifts of Gryffindor ya'll**
RomanceFaerie16: Good to see you made it back for the update, I hope you enjoy this chapter as well!
Asphodele: *Blush* Thank you so much for the compliment. Here's your update, hopefully it's soon enough! Cheers!
ForbidenMaggiks: Hope you had a great grad night. I'm glad that you enjoyed the last update, and hope this one won't disappoint. Can't wait to see the drawing :)
lala: I'm really glad you liked the story, and here's the update!
SarkLover: Who know's what might happen. Although a red heads temper mixed with a Jamaican's could be a lethal combination.
Dweeb: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Here's my present to you, just a little more than an hour late (clock says 1:18 AM), now you have to leave me a review for my birthday tomorrow. Now about the story, I'm really trying to wrap this up, but it's kind of hard. Because I have to end up at the beginning at the same time the story ends, and little things just keep working their way into the plot. But I'm hoping it won't be too much longer. But don't worry, there's a little plot bunny hopping around and growing daily from this fic. I see you reviewed twice, I know the time shifts can be confusing, and I caught one case early on in the fic where I completely mixed the past and the present. Noone called me on it though, so hopefully it didn't throw anyone too terribly. I think it gets easier to differentiate the more the events of each time period are revealed. Hopefully you'll find it easier to get through as time goes on.
Rach: Hi, er, thanks a lot! :) I wrote more, and it will all be revealed in due time! Glad you like the story, looking forward to more feedback :)
Social-flutterby: wow, okay I'm really happy, because if you asked if I was Jamaican, I didn't butcher the patois too much. YAY FOR ME. No, I'm not, African-American, but I have a few inet buddies that are Jamaican. And one good for nothing thing that could NOT be reached to translate a Pansy rant for me ARGH so of course, I just wrote it out and found a site with key phrases. But if anyone's wondering, I'm a 29 yo African-american female, living in the suburbs of charm city, more commonly known as Baltimore, MD, (though I have yet to discover what is charming about it) Oh yeah, glad you're enjoying the fic. And, do me a favor, shoot me an email or review when you publish. I tend to forget things a lot, so it's does better for me to let people know upfront, they need to remind me!